Neighbor says I'm parked on his spot on the street

DonIsHere

Senior member
Aug 3, 2000
592
0
0
I live in this neighborhood where the houses are so packed next to one another, that there is only room for one parked car on the street between houses. I parked on the street 3 houses down from my house one night. The next day, I see a note on my windshield from one of the neighbors demanding I never park there anymore because he claims "it's my spot."

Isn't the street public property? You can't "claim" spots on the street right?
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Slash his tires, TP his trees, egg the hell out of his car, and for the love of god video tape it.

edit: this actually has nothing to do with a solution. It's just something that well, frankly, you'll have to do to remain part of our community.

It actually came down to you or Rossman but we imagined him arguing with suppliers about which-came-first egg prices and going on site to the farms for egg-deals, and let's not even get into what would have happened with Wustof or Johnson and Johnson
 

potato28

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2005
8,964
0
0
He can't do that, but he could call a bylaw officer and you could get a fine. I'd ask him why you can't park on the public property though.
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,203
0
76
Technically, no, he can't claim anything. Like you said, it's public domain.
But of course we all tend to claim ownership of our niche unless someone bumps us out.

So what I'm saying is, this guy could end up fighting back and key your car.
and that's when you should:
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Slash his tires, TP his trees, egg the hell out of his car, and for the love of god video tape it.

:D:D

 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
76
Originally posted by: potato28
He can't do that, but he could call a bylaw officer and you could get a fine. I'd ask him why you can't park on the public property though.

What would the fine be for?

In my town you can park on the street but the car has to be moved in 24 hours. It's not upheld much, as people without a garage park on the street all the time.
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,203
0
76
Originally posted by: potato28
He can't do that, but he could call a bylaw officer and you could get a fine. I'd ask him why you can't park on the public property though.

how can he get fined for parking on the street :confused:
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Threaten to have him deported.

And if he's a citizen tell him that you have a friend in Washington that running for office and is seen as "soft" when it comes to extraditions...
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
64,206
12,524
136
Every locale/state is different on this, but MOST hold that the city street is open to anyone for parking, unless otherwise signed.

YES, as a courtesy, you should try to park in front of your own house, but of course, it's not always possible.
In my sub-division, parking is ALWAYS at a premium, and people park where they can...(my neighbors on one side have 6-7 cars, those on the opposide have 5-6)
 

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Around here, you need a permit to park on certain streets, even if it is right in front of your own house.... a friend of mine found out the hard way. She got a ticket for parking on the street in front of her own house because her roommates friends took up the driveway.

Also, as BoomerD said, you should park in front of your own house if possible.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
To everyone who suggested he park in front of his own house:
Well, duuu-uuuh. You don't think he drove home and said to himself, "gee, I think I'll walk an extra 100 feet for exercise."
I'm pretty sure that spot was his closest option at the time.


OP: Your neighbor is an idiot for not realizing what I just posted above, and for leaving such a note. If you park there again, there's always the chance that the neighbor will key your car.

Solution: Go to craigslist. Find a junker for about $200 that'll pass inspections. Register it and park it on the street in front of the other person's house. If there's some sort of 24 hour rule in effect in your town/village/city, purchase a second $200 junker. Then, just swap them once a day. :p If you've got a few grand to spare, you can increase your level of personal satisfaction by not allowing your neighbor to park within a block of his own home. And, with luck, once you've decided your neighbor learned his lesson about who owns the road, you might get lucky and sell that $200 car for $300 and actually end up with a profit!
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
To everyone who suggested he park in front of his own house:
Well, duuu-uuuh. You don't think he drove home and said to himself, "gee, I think I'll walk an extra 100 feet for exercise."
I'm pretty sure that spot was his closest option at the time.


OP: Your neighbor is an idiot for not realizing what I just posted above, and for leaving such a note. If you park there again, there's always the chance that the neighbor will key your car.

Solution: Go to craigslist. Find a junker for about $200 that'll pass inspections. Register it and park it on the street in front of the other person's house. If there's some sort of 24 hour rule in effect in your town/village/city, purchase a second $200 junker. Then, just swap them once a day. :p If you've got a few grand to spare, you can increase your level of personal satisfaction by not allowing your neighbor to park within a block of his own home. And, with luck, once you've decided your neighbor learned his lesson about who owns the road, you might get lucky and sell that $200 car for $300 and actually end up with a profit!

wow...
 

TheGizmo

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
3,627
0
71
personally i wouldnt get up in his face about it, and id try to find parking which is just as close in a different spot, but if nothing avail park in his spot again and i guess you will find out if he really "owns" that spot or not anyway :)
 
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
To everyone who suggested he park in front of his own house:
Well, duuu-uuuh. You don't think he drove home and said to himself, "gee, I think I'll walk an extra 100 feet for exercise."
I'm pretty sure that spot was his closest option at the time.


OP: Your neighbor is an idiot for not realizing what I just posted above, and for leaving such a note. If you park there again, there's always the chance that the neighbor will key your car.

Solution: Go to craigslist. Find a junker for about $200 that'll pass inspections. Register it and park it on the street in front of the other person's house. If there's some sort of 24 hour rule in effect in your town/village/city, purchase a second $200 junker. Then, just swap them once a day. :p If you've got a few grand to spare, you can increase your level of personal satisfaction by not allowing your neighbor to park within a block of his own home. And, with luck, once you've decided your neighbor learned his lesson about who owns the road, you might get lucky and sell that $200 car for $300 and actually end up with a profit!

Holy issues, batman!
 

0

Golden Member
Jul 22, 2003
1,270
0
0
Originally posted by: DrPizza
To everyone who suggested he park in front of his own house:
Well, duuu-uuuh. You don't think he drove home and said to himself, "gee, I think I'll walk an extra 100 feet for exercise."
I'm pretty sure that spot was his closest option at the time.


OP: Your neighbor is an idiot for not realizing what I just posted above, and for leaving such a note. If you park there again, there's always the chance that the neighbor will key your car.

Solution: Go to craigslist. Find a junker for about $200 that'll pass inspections. Register it and park it on the street in front of the other person's house. If there's some sort of 24 hour rule in effect in your town/village/city, purchase a second $200 junker. Then, just swap them once a day. :p If you've got a few grand to spare, you can increase your level of personal satisfaction by not allowing your neighbor to park within a block of his own home. And, with luck, once you've decided your neighbor learned his lesson about who owns the road, you might get lucky and sell that $200 car for $300 and actually end up with a profit!

That's certainly absurd...

Have you ever thought about going up and TALKING to him? Seems to me that so many people on these forums run here and post their problem with someone else, but forsake the most basic essence of humanity - talking, communicating, conversing with a person you call you neighbor. Most people are reasonable, you should at least try that first.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
The next day, I see a note on my windshield from one of the neighbors demanding I never park there anymore because he claims "it's my spot."

Doesn't sound like the neighbor is being reasonable to me! And what in dear God's name is that neighbor going to do if the OP (gasp!) decides to invite some friends over? Are the friends supposed to park well away from the neighborhood (to avoid parking in front of someone else's house)?? I'm surprised that anyone would have the gall to put a note like that on someone else's windshield. I can understand complaining with a note if some idiot was taking up 2 parking places, but please... you don't own the street in front of your house.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
The next day, I see a note on my windshield from one of the neighbors demanding I never park there anymore because he claims "it's my spot."

Doesn't sound like the neighbor is being reasonable to me! And what in dear God's name is that neighbor going to do if the OP (gasp!) decides to invite some friends over? Are the friends supposed to park well away from the neighborhood (to avoid parking in front of someone else's house)?? I'm surprised that anyone would have the gall to put a note like that on someone else's windshield. I can understand complaining with a note if some idiot was taking up 2 parking places, but please... you don't own the street in front of your house.
I agree.

Maybe I'm just lazy, but even if a car was taking up two spaces, I probably wouldn't do anything. If it happened again, yeah, I'd get myself out of my chair and leave a note.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
64,206
12,524
136
Originally posted by: DrPizza
The next day, I see a note on my windshield from one of the neighbors demanding I never park there anymore because he claims "it's my spot."

Doesn't sound like the neighbor is being reasonable to me! And what in dear God's name is that neighbor going to do if the OP (gasp!) decides to invite some friends over? Are the friends supposed to park well away from the neighborhood (to avoid parking in front of someone else's house)?? I'm surprised that anyone would have the gall to put a note like that on someone else's windshield. I can understand complaining with a note if some idiot was taking up 2 parking places, but please... you don't own the street in front of your house.

We have a neighbor (2 doors down) who leaves notes on your windshield if you park in front of their house. She complained to me one day that the kids who live in the house between us were parking in front of her house, in "HER" parking space. (they have a 2 car garage, and full 2 car driveway, and only had 1 vehicle at the time) I told her to her face that it's a city street, and people can park WTF they want, as long as they don't infringe even one inch on her driveway, there's not a dammed thing she can do about it. She still leaves notes on windshields from time to time...but now that they bought a 2nd vehicle, they park one in the street, just so no one else can park there.:roll: